Rubio Heads to Vatican for Talks with Pope Leo XIV

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to hold an "frank" conversation with Pope Leo XIV during a visit to the Vatican, according to US Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch. The meeting comes amid repeated criticism of the pope by President Donald Trump.

Burch said the purpose of the visit is to allow frank dialogue on US policy and to resolve any disagreements, noting that differences between countries are common and best addressed through direct discussion.

In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly criticized the pope, most recently in an interview on conservative radio in which he accused him of taking a position that would condone Iran's nuclear weapons. The pope has made no such statement. He has criticized the war against Iran, which Washington describes as an effort to halt its nuclear program.

Rubio is also scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. Meloni has previously publicly defended the pope. In his first year as pope, Leo XIV has positioned himself as a vocal critic of both the war in Iran and US immigration policy.

(reuters, bak)